What happens if the Hard Disk fails ??

[Perfectionist]

I mean under the Applecare, would I have to send it back to Apple or would Apple come to my home and replace it ??

More importantly, what about privacy ..... if they keep the old/broken Hard Disk, could somebody somehow read everything that was on it like my emails and banking details etc .....

How often do HD's fail in Apple machines ??

 

[mkrishnan]

1) You'd have to send it in.

2) You'd lose the data; but I think they take care of the drive in terms of destroying it in a way that protects you.

3) Basically just as often as in any other computer.

 

[jesteraver]

Happened 4x in 3 years.

From what I've learned something corrupts the drive, don't ask I just don't know how. Some how the OS would self-delete itself and poof all my stuff gone, had to whip out and reinstall everything, until I got DiskWarrior and an external HDD to recover all the data, I would have lost if I just reinstalled everything.

One thing get an external drive and two get disk warrior

 

[mkrishnan]

That's not a drive failure, though. That's a filesystem failure.

 

[jesteraver]

That's not a drive failure, though. That's a filesystem failure.

technicality lol

i wonder how many people actually get a faulty hdd in their computer, would be an interesting thing to try and get out of apple

 

[sushi]

While Disk Warrior is okay, Spin Rite trounces it in spades.

Why do I say this? Well, I've used Spin Rite to recover drives that had filesystem failures and other issues. It works. Plus it is great at checking your HD.

The only issue with Spin Rite is you need a PC to connect the problem HD for fixing since there is no Mac version.

 

[jesteraver]

While Disk Warrior is okay, Spin Rite trounces it in spades.

Why do I say this? Well, I've used Spin Rite to recover drives that had filesystem failures and other issues. It works. Plus it is great at checking your HD.

The only issue with Spin Rite is you need a PC to connect the problem HD for fixing since there is no Mac version.

I don't mind Disk Warrior, pretty much defrag the hard drive before problems arise.

 

[mkrishnan]

i wonder how many people actually get a faulty hdd in their computer, would be an interesting thing to try and get out of apple

I'm sorry... I didn't mean it as a technicality. HDs don't ship defective all that often (because of burn in) but they do go bad. If you use them for long enough, it's almost a certainty. HD warranties get used all the time.

Besides, the OP was talking about getting the HD replaced. You don't get the HD replaced because your fs is borked. You just recover (if you can), then reformat and get on with your life. You get the HD replaced because the HD is borked.

 

[jesteraver]

I'm sorry... I didn't mean it as a technicality. HDs don't ship defective all that often (because of burn in) but they do go bad. If you use them for long enough, it's almost a certainty. HD warranties get used all the time.

Besides, the OP was talking about getting the HD replaced. You don't get the HD replaced because your fs is borked. You just recover (if you can), then reformat and get on with your life. You get the HD replaced because the HD is borked.

you got me there

 

[sushi]

I'm sorry... I didn't mean it as a technicality. HDs don't ship defective all that often (because of burn in) but they do go bad. If you use them for long enough, it's almost a certainty. HD warranties get used all the time.

Besides, the OP was talking about getting the HD replaced. You don't get the HD replaced because your fs is borked. You just recover (if you can), then reformat and get on with your life. You get the HD replaced because the HD is borked.

Exactly.

And if your FS is borked, Spin Rite does a wonderful job of recovering it.

I've had Spin Rite recover HDs that Disk Warrior couldn't touch. The type where Disk Warrior gives up or does not recover anything. Enter Spin Rite and viola all files are there.

 

[Perfectionist]

1) You'd have to send it in.

Dang It !! How long do they take to send it back ??

2) You'd lose the data; but I think they take care of the drive in terms of destroying it in a way that protects you.

But how can we be 100% sure !! Does Apple allow you to keep the old drive ??

3) Basically just as often as in any other computer.

How often is that ?? My old Dell is just over 5years old and has never had a HD problem ..... do iMacs usually give out 5 years of trouble free service ??

 

[Cave Man]

I've only had two hd fail; both western digitals. The last one was a month ago. I used Data Recovery II to retrieve about 98% of the files off of it.

I then took the drive into my back yard and shot it with my 12 gauge.

No more WD drives for me.

 

[sushi]

I've only had two hd fail

You are lucky. In the past few years I've had many more due to mechanical failure.

As for those with FS failure, I've managed to recover all with Spin Rite.

I then took the drive into my back yard and shot it with my 12 gauge.

I like your destruction method.

 

[oduinnin]

WTF? You guys all sound like PC Weenies

In my 15 years of using Macs only once have I had a HD physical failure! And that was in a 5 year old Mac IIci that I bought used.

I have had file system problems occasionally, but, ALL were recovered using either Disk Warrior, Norton or TechTool Pro.

The company I work uses Windows PC's as do most of the employees in their private lives. They seemingly have continuous file system troubles, their HD's needing constant maintenance and repair.

Underlying Mac OS X is BSD, a kernel variant of Unix. Unix systems do their own maintenance behind the scenes and are rock solid.

Your very best insurance to avoid HD catastrophic failure is to have a back up drive or use RAID 0 (redundant drives).

Most Apple Stores or Authorized Resellers can repair / replace a HD within a couple of days. Apple does NOT do "at home" repairs on customer hardware.

Chill out. Enjoy your new Mac

 

[Cave Man]

I like your destruction method.

And it felt really satisfying.

 

[hologram]

Apple does NOT do "at home" repairs on customer hardware.

Since when? About 3 years ago I moved out into the sticks, and when I had a motherboard problem on my G4 tower they sent someone out to replace it. I don't know if they still do that, but they used to.

And, to the OP, instead of asking people who don't know, why not call AppleCare, ask them, and let us know what they say?

Edit: it was more like 4+ years ago.

 

[mkrishnan]

How often is that ?? My old Dell is just over 5years old and has never had a HD problem ..... do iMacs usually give out 5 years of trouble free service ??

Google the term "MTBF" ... it happens. It does not happen often. Whether it happens or does not happen to your computer is essentially unrelated to your brand of computer. I've actually never had a catastrophic drive failure either. Like I said before, though, if you do certain things (like run a drive up 100% constantly, i.e. in a fileserver), it almost certainly fail at some point during your usage. Drives fail (or come close enough to it that failure is imminent) at Google and the like all the time. They fail at homes too, just far less frequently.

 

[joebells]

yeah they just sent someone out to fix my girlfriends imac g5(power supply) 3rd repair on the machine and now the hd is failing(so pissed).

 

[mkrishnan]

yeah they just sent someone out to fix my girlfriends imac g5(power supply) 3rd repair on the machine and now the hd is failing(so pissed).

Really? They still do that? I'm sorry about that. But I don't think they do this every time or even frequently... typically it's mediated by the store or mail-in.

 

[oduinnin]

I stand corrected!

Since when? About 3 years ago I moved out into the sticks, and when I had a motherboard problem on my G4 tower they sent someone out to replace it. I don't know if they still do that, but they used to.

And, to the OP, instead of asking people who don't know, why not call AppleCare, ask them, and let us know what they say?

Edit: it was more like 4+ years ago.

I guess I should have read my Applecare service plan more thoroughly. From the plan:

c. Service Options. Apple may provide service through one or more of the following options:
(i) Carry-in service is available for most Covered Equipment. Return the Covered Equipment
requiring service to an Apple-owned retail store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider
location offering carry-in service. Service will be performed at the location, or the store or
service provider may send the Covered Equipment to an Apple repair service location to be
repaired. Once you are notified that service is complete, you will promptly retrieve the product.
(ii) Onsite service is available for many desktop computers if the location of the Covered
Equipment is within 50 miles/80 kilometers radius of an Apple authorized onsite service
provider located in the United States or Canada. Apple will dispatch a service technician to the
location of the Covered Equipment. Service will be performed at the location, or the service
technician will transport the Covered Equipment to an Apple Authorized Service Provider or
Apple repair service location for repair. If the Covered Equipment is repaired at an Apple
Authorized Service Provider or Apple repair service location, Apple will arrange for
transportation of the Covered Equipment to your location following service. If the service
technician is not granted access to the Covered Equipment at the appointed time, any further
onsite visits may be subject to an additional charge.

The two times I had trouble and called, they asked me to bring in my computer. I assumed therefore, no on-site repairs would be included.

Next time I need service, I'll insist they come to my home!

 

[mkrishnan]

Wow, I didn't know that either. Good information to have!

 

[hologram]

The two times I had trouble and called, they asked me to bring in my computer. I assumed therefore, no on-site repairs would be included.

Next time I need service, I'll insist they come to my home!

I think it's at the discretion of the AppleCare rep you talk to. As I said, they sent someone out to fix the motherboard, but a few months later I was having trouble of a different sort and the person I spoke with this time wouldn't send anyone out. He had a completely different attitude. I lived 25-30 miles from the nearest auth. service center at the time, and I think the rep gets to decide based on distance and whether or not he feels like Napoleon that particular day.

Anyway, if anyone ever does find out how they decide who gets at-home service and who doesn't, please post it here!